The Iowa State University police obtained guns from the military in 2010, but few students know about them.

The Iowa State University police obtained guns from the military in 2010, but few students know about them.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 6:11 PM CDT Sep 17, 2014

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT tactics came up during protests in Ferguson, Missouri over the Michael Brown shooting. Now, Iowa State university students are wondering why ISU police have some of the same equipment. KCCI's Vanessa Peng live on the ames campus with our top story. Kevin and Stacey, Iowa State officials say ISU police...here at armory...need M- 16's to keep the campus safe..some students tell me they aren't sure those weapons are necessary. Every student we talked to today -- didn't know about the seven M-16 military style rifles on campus -- until we told them. <Mallory Pech, ISU Freshman "I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY'VE BEEN HERE ARE HERE AND HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THIS LONG. I AM JUST KIND OF MIND BLOWN ACTUALLY." > Iowa State University Police got the weapons ..similar to the rifle you see here...through a federal giveaway program known as the 1033 Program. The Department of Defense provides military surplus gear to law enforcement agencies who want some and apply. ISU Police did just that -- and received the rifles in 2010. < Warren Madden, ISU "WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY."44> <14:55 WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUES ON CAMPUS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY COMMUNITY." With events like VEISHEA riots over the years and a high speed chase that led to a officer involved shooting last November ...Iowa State has seen it's share of dangerous situations. < Warren Madden, ISU "A RIFLE PROVIDES BETTER CONTROL, OBVIOUSLY IT CAN BE USED FROM A DISTANCE THAT'S FURTHER AWAY THAN A HANDGUN SO THERE ARE CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCE S WHERE WE THINK THAT PROVIDES BETTER PROTECTION FOR THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY."> Madden says rifles are more effective than handguns in an active shooter type situation. Every student we spoke to may have not known about the weapons, but they were mixed on how they felt about them being on campus. <Mallory Pech, ISU Freshman "I DON'T THINK THEY NEED THEM THEY'RE NOT NECESSARY FOR WHAT OUR CAMPUS IS."> <Nathanial Mann, ISU Sophomore "IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. I THINK THEY KNOW BEST WHAT THEY NEED TO HAVE IN ORDER TO GET THE JOB DONE." 31 Officers at all three of Iowa's state universities weren't even allowed to carry handguns until just seven years ago. University officials say the M-16's are locked up in gun safes and only state- certified and trained officers have access to them..and officers haven't needed to bring out the guns on campus since they've had them. Vanessa, reporting for us live tonight, thanks.

Advertisement

Few students know ISU police have M16s

The Iowa State University police obtained guns from the military in 2010, but few students know about them.